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 The East Range Epistle
July-August 2005
Coat of Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota

Bugs in the Kitchen
  by Bert Whitcombe Minnesota Episcopal Environmental Stewardship Commission 
 
    This morning as I was cleaning up the kitchen, there they were, yet another time – those damn Asian Ladybird Beetles – they are all over the place. What a nuisance!  Disgusting, that’s what it is, crawling around, biting, and when I crush them they stink, so I drown the little buggers!
    And then – hey this is difficult to explain – this beetle talked to me, not actually with words, no comic strip stuff, nonetheless I heard, or felt communication . . .
    “I have no other place to go, I did not choose to be here, I am just doing my thing, and you, you are hating me, I feel it, and I can not respond, for I have no will, no ability to change the situation.  Your kind has brought me here!”
    Do you know how they came to be here in the US, in Minnesota?  We brought them here to control aphids, which have become a BIG problem in our monoculture agriculture system.  At first they were used on soybeans, and now also hybrid poplars, these are both long and complex (and worrisome stories!).
    I catch my breath as this revelation unfolds in my conscious mind, I – we – have been directing our agitation, our anger and fears at the wrong party!
    As this is sinking in, I glance out the window and see a cluster of dirty old ‘English Sparrows’ sitting in my rose hedge, oops, now I hear them talking to me also, they are not here by their design either, my ancestors brought them to North America.
Bert Whitcombe is an “Itinerant Preacher for the Environment” who makes his home in Fergus Falls, MN.  Bert may be reached via e-mail at breadoflife@env-steward.com
Bert’s essay is used in lieu of an article from St. Paul’s, which was not received.
 

In this Issue
Bugs in the Kitchen

Pat's Pastoral Notes

East Range Churches Notes

St. John’s Notes

St. Mary’s Notes

St. Paul’s Notes

General Notes

The East Range Epistle is based on each congregation's input and assistance.  It is published in hard-copy and on the Internet for the East Range Episcopal Churches. Please send comments and input to St. Paul's Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 376 
Virginia, MN 55792
   


  To the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota

Pat after her Installation, October 2003
Pat's Pastoral Notes ...
The Rev Patricia Gillespie

Praying What Jesus Taught Us to Pray
 

 
    We like the old ways. It’s familiar, comfortable, and secure. That successful advertising line “all new” doesn’t sell much in the church. Bibles, Prayer Books, and Hymnals are changed only at great risk. People leave churches over new words, and singing a new song to the Lord is usually painful.
    But look again at the God we see in the Bible. Wherever God shows up it seems that things change – there is repentance (turning around, a change of heart), transformation, and a chance to have a whole new life. With a God like that it is no wonder that we long for some stability and changelessness.
    Christ, the Word, transforms our words and our lives. Yet God’s love does remain the same. In our own transformations, the godly love in us remains. The godly truth underneath and behind the ever-changing words of our worship books remains the same.
    The prayer that Jesus taught us is seldom prayed in Aramaic as he probably prayed it or in Greek as the gospel writers recorded it, but its truth in all its translations remains. We’ve prayed those familiar words over and over, but have we really made them our own yet? Our youth group is working on putting the Lord’s Prayer in their own words. This one was written by Lauren DePaulis. You might try writing one of your own.

The Lord who is in heaven, Honored and holy is your name. The Kingdom shall come, all will be done. Here on earth and there in heaven. Give us today and everyday our bread. Forgive our wrongdoings as we forgive others’ wrongdoings. Keep us from temptations, but steer us away from evil. For the Kingdom, Power, and Glory stays with us, always and forever.

    The Word is constantly re-translated so that we can hear and speak God’s word for us today. And sometimes the unsettling new words allow God to break through the walls we may have built around ourselves with the old familiar words. Your own new words may allow Christ the Word to transform someone’s life, perhaps even your own.
The word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart ... (Deuteronomy 30:14)

    
Pat +
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Churches' News

Upcoming Retreats
  
The Practice of the Presence of God:   
August 30 - September 1 (Tuesday-Thursday) at Ginny McBride's cabin on Sand Lake; led by Pat Gillespie.
Journeying with the Saints in the Wilderness:
September 20-23 (Tuesday-Friday)  in the Boundary Waters; led by Pat Gillespie and Sue Spencer.
    Save the dates and please let Pat know ASAP if you want to attend one of these events.  Space is limited.
Three-Church Joint Vestry Meeting
 
    The following was covered at the Joint Vestry Meeting on June 14:
 - 22 people attended.  All congregations were well represented.
 - Brief meetings where held by each congregation.
 - Each congregation reported to the group on their own “state of the church and those from other congregations responded.
 - St. John's introduced their congregational survey and alternatives for the future, following their April crisis meeting; and an overview of the budget shortfall was presented.
 - St. Mary's noted the Tower summer services, the Family Camp, via media, congregational growth, and issues about Mary Catherine Brown's home being willed to the diocese.
 - St. Paul's hopes to have their windows soon; concern was expressed about visits to those who are not attending; via media was noted and raffle tickets available.
 - Updates were noted on bylaws, disposal of data, training of lay ministers.
 - Lively discussion ensued about use of  the new safe church video.
 - A need for stewardship leaders and treasurers was noted.
 - Scholarships for those attending Music Camp were approved.
 - Various event dates were noted:
   - Environmental Stewardship: June 24-25
   - Pat's Vacation Dates
   - Music Camp: August 14-20
   - Ely Family Camp: August 26-27
   - Next Joint Vestry: September 13 at St. Paul’s
   - Congregational Development in Bemidji: September 24
   - 3-Point Budget Planning: November 22.
    Thanks to Carol Collins for taking the notes.
Chuck Wagon Dinner and Barn Dance

    Save the date: Saturday, September 17 at Beaglewood Farm.
The Seekers

    An open group for reflection and discussion gathering on Sundays at 12:15 at St. Pau'’s.
    Our summer program is Renovare:  A Series on Spiritual Formation and Nurturing Christian Growth.
    Sessions in this series are scheduled to end at 1:45 PM.  Bring your lunch if desired.
July 3    Free Day
July 10  Discovering a Balanced Vision of Christian Faith and Practice:  The Life of Jesus Christ
July 17  Practicing the Prayer-Filled Life:  The Contemplative Tradition
July 24  Practicing the Virtuous Life:  The Holiness Tradition
July 31  Practicing the Spirit-Empowered Life:  The Charismatic Tradition
August 7   Practicing the Compassionate Life:  The Social Justice Tradition
August 14  Practicing the Word-Centered Life:  The Evangelical Tradition
August 21  Practicing the Sacramental Life:  The Incarnational Tradition
August 28  Discovering a Practical Strategy for Spiritual Growth:  The Spiritual Formation Group
    All are welcome for any or all sessions. Text is A Spiritual Formation Workbook, by James Bryan Smith (HarperCollins; 1993).  You need not purchase the text.  Some copies are available to use at church for free or to purchase and keep for $10.00.
Transitions:

    Michele Axelson and Brian Smith plan to celebrate Holy Matrimony at St. John's on July 23.  Michele attended preschool at St. John's.
    Teresa Burg and Jon Lanyk plan to celebrate Holy Matrimony at St. Paul's on July 30.  Teresa is Eathel Grady's granddaughter.
New Directory

    Each of our churches has been gathering updated information for our telephone directory.  Over the summer we will post a pre-press copy at each church so final updates can be made.  Look for your new directory by Labor Day.
Region II

    The Region II meeting was held on May 7, at St. Edward the Confessor Episcopal Church, Duluth.  The main items covered at the business meeting were:
 - St. Paul's and St. Mary's had still not paid dues for 2004 and 2005.
 - The Diocese is looking at redistricting the regions and seeks input from anyone with an idea on how to better structure our regions.
 - Bob Carmack shared the Diocesan Council resolution and supporting documentation concerning the Budget Reduction. Some of the supporting documentation included the following:
... in order to keep more money in the parish, less money must be spent at the diocesan level. 
    Perhaps it is simply time for the Diocese of Minnesota to enter into a fallow time, a time to do less and weigh the impacts of doing less with our annual apportionment-supported budget.
Full details are available online (in a PDF file) at http://www.episcopalmn.org/Council_April2005.pdf
    The next Region II Meeting will be on Saturday, October 8, 2005 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Virginia, MN.
Diocesan Youth Music Camp

    August 14-20 at Camp Heartland  Willow River, MN.  An overnight camp experience for youth entering grades 3-10 in the fall of 2005. Includes choral training, handbells, instruments, recorders, percussion, acoustic guitar, music production, choreography training, and the usual “camp” activities, including swimming.
    Founded and sponsored by the Diocesan Youth Music Committee. Space limited to 75.  COST: $385 ($200 to be covered by the Three-Point Churches)
    If interested in participating, contact Gail Coon (218-744-5138) immediately.
Next Epistle

   Deadline for input to the September 2005  issue of The East Range Epistle is Wednesday, August 17, 2005 to your congregational contact.  Processing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, August 24.

Epistle Contribution Schedule

The schedule for the lead article for the next three issues of The East Range Epistle is:

Please keep the article to 400 to 500 words and send it to the lead article to Carol or Chuck Morello.  Deadline is the same as for the regular Epistle production.  

Getting Input to the Epistle
   Preparation of the Epistle is time-consuming. The following guidelines will ease the work burden on those involved:

1.  All submissions must be in electronic format (RTF, MS-Word, WordPerfect, Wordpad, Notepad, or as text inside an e-mail).  Non electronic format materials must go through your congregation’s EpistleContact:
   St. John’s: Jane Kingston (218-744-3833)
   St. Mary’s: Mary Groeninger (218-365-3364)
   St. Paul’s:  Deanne Polski (218-741-2503)

 2.  Deadlines have been established to make it possible for you to receive the Epistle before the new month starts.  The Epistle goes to the printer on the Monday before the “folders, spindlers, and mutilators” process it.  Input received late may not be printed.
3.  If you wish to help with the production of the Epistle,  please contact Pat (218-638-1206). 
4. If you wish to help with the editing of the Epistle, please contact Carol or Chuck Morello (218-744-1615)

To St. John's Homepage St. John's News
(Submitted by Jane Kingston)

Crisis Survey

    The Crisis Survey has now been mailed to all congregants. You are requested to complete and return the three-page survey in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided. Extra copies are available on the back credence table in the sanctuary. All responses will be compiled into a summary upon which the Vestry will rely in its future decision-making.  Your response should have been returned by June 20, 2005. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact any vestry member (Mother Pat, Kathy Hall, Gail Hallstrom, Nancy Harvey, Tom Kingston, or Jane Kingston) or better yet, come to our next vestry meeting on July 19.  Thank you very much – please pray for God’s guidance in our future!

Reminders and Notices
St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Tower, MN St. Mary's News
(Submitted by Mary Groeninger)
 
Northwoods Family Camp

        Join St. Mary’s August 26-27 for Northwoods Family Camp, to be held again at the South Kawishiwi River Campground, 10 miles south of Ely on Highway 1.  Camp will begin at 1:00 on Friday with kid’s camp  with activities and crafts celebrating Creation, followed by family swimming, dinner, and a campfire with storytelling and song.
    Saturday will begin with breakfast on the beach followed by seining, hiking, and  craft project.  Camp ends at noon, though campers are encouraged to pack a lunch and stay to swim.  Camp activities will be geared toward the age range of families registered.  We would also welcome young adults willing to volunteer as camp assistants. 
    Camp fees are $25 per family (scholarships are available) and include the cost of activities, dinner, and breakfast.  Campsites are extra.  We have reserved the nicest sites in the campground, available on a first-come, first-serve basis at $21 or $10.50 if you’re willing to share with another family.  They’re going quickly, so register early!  To register, contact Mary (218-365-3364).  Brochures with registration forms will also be available at the churches in early July. 

Wednesday Night Meetings

        Wednesday Night meeting will continue book discussion in July and August.  All are welcome – come as time and interest allow.  Contact Mary (218-365-3364) if you’d like to be notified periodically of future discussion topics.

Service Schedule
 
        Services will continue in Tower at 6:30 PM on Saturdays throughout July and August in addition to regular services at Ely Presbyterian Church at 4:30 PM.
 

St. Paul's in 2003 after renovations St. Paul's News

Stained Glass Window Update
    The new stained glass windows were installed on June 20. 

Walker Window above entrance
 Main Windows

Stop by take a closer look.
 
Episcopal Church Women
    The Episcopal Church women of all parishes will be meeting two Wednesdays in July and August at 12:30 pm.
    The second Wednesday is a working meeting at the church.  A list of tasks is being compiled and will be on the bulletin board at St. Paul’s.   If you have time on a different day, and see a task you can do, just cross if off and date it.  Some examples are cleaning kitchen cupboards, stoves, painting, etc.  Contact Dorothy Parish or Marlene Munig for more information. 
    The 4th Wednesday we will have lunch at the Coates at 12:30 pm and afterwards prepare the epistle at the church.
Marlene Munig

Restoration and Repair Report
 
        Three of the four windows in the foyer have been completed.  It has been promised that the windows will be installed soon.  All four windows have been paid for by present and former members of St. Paul's.
    Work is now being done in two lower level rooms.  As you go down the stairs from the church entry, there will be a lounge area with cupboards, sink, sofa, chairs and also will be handicapped accessible with our lift.  The cupboards and new floor tile have been purchased.  The ceiling tile and new lighting will be installed sometime after the 4th of July.
    The second room for small meetings has its new ceiling tile and lighting and has been painted.  This will have two long tables and chairs and some storage for group supplies also.
    There has been a need for additional meeting rooms for groups meeting at the same time.  Some groups like to have more privacy which this also would provide.  Railings on the stairs to the lower level will also be installed.  New light fixtures are being purchased and installed in two areas in the foyer to provide better lighting near stairs.
    If you see something special you’d like to contribute such as time, talent or treasure, please contact George or Marlene Munig for information.  New folding chairs are needed for the small meeting room at the lower level.  If you’d like to help in selecting these or other needed items, please contact Marlene Munig (218-741-3077).
Quilt Raffle

    This is to advise you that St. Paul's will be raffling off a quilt on November 20, 2005.  We are selling 500 tickets at $2.00 apiece, proceeds to be used for miscellaneous building improvements.  The quilt is slightly larger than a queen size and may be seen at St. Paul's.  Anyone who would like to get a color picture of the quilt for selling purposes can let me know. Please contact me if you would like to get raffle tickets to sell, all selling efforts are greatly appreciated. Or if you do not want to sell tickets, I am more than willing to have you purchase some.  Even though the raffle is a ways in the future, we can sell now, be done with the hard part and have the money to purchase the items we need and have them in place by November.  Thanks for all your efforts and please call me with any questions:  Cheryl Killien (218-254-2487).  I will also be the person you turn the tickets and money in to and will be checking on your selling efforts periodically.
    Special thanks to Tom Campbell from Trinity in Hermantown and Joe Piette from St. Andrew's in Cloquet for helping out with the selling of tickets, as of this date they have taken 6 books of tickets.  Here is a quote from Tom that I thought brings the message home. Next time you run a fundraiser, do not forget that we stand in support of all of your missions.  WE ARE part of your team and will work to make you successful.  Now I think that sums up our mission and we all need to work as a team to make one another successful.  Thanks Tom for the words of wisdom.
Request for Yellow Cards

    In May there was a mailing to all members requesting how you are currently helping out at St. Paul's and what you would like to do in the future.  There was a list of volunteer positions requested and I am looking for you to complete the cards and turn them in.  Your volunteer efforts are needed to keep OUR church healthy.  Please consider your gifts and volunteer.  If you have misplaced the letter or the yellow card, please let me know and I will get them to you.  Thanks for helping at St. Paul's.
Cheryl Killien
MS - The Ride Across Minnesota
(MS-TRAM)

    This would have been my 12th year of riding the MS-150.  I never would have thought I’d still be riding for MS, I did the first ride to help out a friend who needed someone to ride with, and on that first ride I got hooked.  My intent was to keep riding the MS-150 however I decided to do something different this year.  I am going to ride MS-TRAM instead.  The Ride Across Minnesota is another MS fundraising ride, however it is not a two day 150+ miles ride; this ride lasts 5 days, with 70+ miles as the average daily ride.
    The ride starts on July 24 in Grand Rapids, the first night is spent in Hibbing, Day 2 is Hibbing to Biwabik, Day 3 is Biwabik to Tower and back (hilly terrain), day 4 Biwabik to Two Harbors, will be a long distance day with some long and steep climbs, Day 5 Two Harbors to Duluth a few hills but a short day.  I have not ridden the route but estimate it will be about 340-375 miles; it will depend how many extra miles they add in to insure we get enough work done to earn our fundraising dollars.
    Now that I've told you of my plans I sincerely hope that you will support my efforts to raise funds to fight MS.  Thanks to those that have already contributed.  The funds are used for research and to provide immediate and necessary help and care for MS patients.
    I need your help to reach my goal of raising $2,000+ this year.  I will accept checks made out to the MS Society and will also accept cash as a last resort.
    Checks can be sent to 830 7th Ave N.E. Chisholm, MN  55719. If you have questions you can contact me at 218-254-2487 or check out the tour information online.
    Thank You Very Much!!
Larry Killien

p.s.  If you'd like to ride along my team, Two Tyred, can use a few more riders.  I'd really like to have the company.


   When Jesus, risen from the dead, says in his Gospel  “I give you my peace,” he is not offering us a life with no inner combats. He invites us to realize that our hearts find peace especially by being rooted in the spirit of mercy.
 + Taizé meditation
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